Most touching melody

[Nightscape]

What's the most moving melody you can think of?  Not necessarily catchy, but moving - as in a melody that grabs you and pulls you emotionally along with it.

I don't know if I have a favorite one myself, but one of the greatest in my opinion is the main theme from the second movement of Tchaikovsky's 5th symphony (the one with the horn solo).

[lenny]

immedietly springing to mind are the opening themes of tchaikovsky's piano trio, and rachmaninov's 1st trio.

[DarkWind]

I'd say, within a heartbeat, Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe. It simply is sublime. The melody flows like honey, and the music pours in deeply, just the most beautiful thing to have ever been written by any man. This work transcends anything else. The melodies, are just perfect. So beautifully creative and exact.

[Brian Healey]

I've always had a soft spot for both Chopin's E-flat nocturne Op.9 no.2 and Debussy's "Claire de Lune." I guess pieces are overplayed for a reason. Both melodies are very moving (when played well).


Peace,
Bri

[BoliverAllmon]

shostakovich prelude 14 from his p and f.

[musik_man]

Scriabin's op2 no1 Etude in C# minor(and I can play this one ^_^)

Chopin's e minor Nocturne also is great(learning this one at the moment.)  That melody in octaves is beautiful.

[SteinwayTony]

The theme from Brahms' first violin sonata in G major induces orgasm.

[SteinwayTony]

The theme from Brahms' first violin sonata in G major induces orgasm.

The Scriabin etude mentioned above is a great one.

[edit: Whoops, hit Quote instead of Modify.]

[pianobabe56]

Grainger's "Irish Tune from County Derry" is a classic, so long as people can handle the intonation! *eye roll*

[steinwayguy]

The C-sharp minor theme from Chopin's 4th Scherzo. God, when this is played well.

Also, the main theme of the second movement of Beethoven's Opus 90 induces an orgasm.

Also, Schubert 960, anywhere in it, any melody from it, orgasmic when played well.

As well as, to name just a few, the Allegro con brio theme of Beethoven's Opus 111, the main theme of Chopin's third ballade, the Allegretto to Beethoven's 7th Symphony, Brahms Opus 119 Rhapsody, the second movement of Haydn's 49?th (E-flat) sonata, and Rachmaninoff's fourth Opus 23 prelude and seventh Opus 33 Etudes-Tableaux.

[apion]

The opening melodies from these pieces:

The slow movement of Chopin's Piano Concerto #1.  
The slow movement of Ravel's G Major concerto.
The slow movement of Mozart's Piano Concertos #21, #23

[/b]

[Muzakian]

I second the horn entry in the Tchaikovsky 5th second movement - perhaps my favourite moment in all music. The clarinet entry in Rachmaninov's 2nd symphony adagio has a similar effect on me.

[lenny]

chopin 1st and 2nd piano concertos - some of the most bittersweet and beautiful melodies ever concieved

also - the andante spinato part in a minor key and ESPECIALLY-
that moment in the grand polonaise after the angry octaves - where in goes into a minro key - THAT PART , if played well, produces orgasms and tears in me!

[SteinwayTony]

Rachmaninoff's fourth Opus 23 prelude

Great one.

The funny thing about most of the pieces mentioned here is that if they are not played how they should be played, it makes me want to throw up. 

[Ant1]

I think the funeral march by chopin ( Grand sonata) is moving , and his waltz in c#minor. especially the part where the melody speeds up and runs down

[delpetrarca]

someone mentioned Scriabin! Yes! Most his etudes have that power I think. I prefer Op.8 even more, esp. Op.8 No.12... it's just......@Q#$@#$#@@$# undescribable!!!Listening to that always makes me ownder the magic of music!!! so much tragedy in it... and the black mass sonata... I feel that it's almost not music, but sound tricks, to disturb ppl's emotions... Almost all Scriabin's later compositions are like that to me.

There're just too many piece that have such touching quality to be listed. I think ALL GOOD compositions starting from later classical era have that power... 

[Skeptopotamus]

the two most touching and moving pieces, ever, and without any argument, are the glass violin concerto and the nymen piano concerto.

[e60m5]

The opening theme in Db to the Tchaikovsky Op.23 Piano Concerto.

[Skeptopotamus]

that's a close third

[Nightscape]

Here's another three really good ones from Lord of The Rings.


The theme played after Gandalf falls into the abyss in The Fellowship of The Ring (has a choir humming plus a vocal soloist).

Shadowfax's theme from The Two Towers (played when Gandalf charges down the hill at Helm's Deep)

The final hearing of the main hobbit theme in The Return of The King (played during the coronation ceremony at the end, when the camera pans out on Frodo, Sam, Pippin, and Merry)

Actually, most of the themes from The Lord of The Rings has this effect on me.  Others include:

Gollum's Song (played during the credits of The Two Towers)
Riders of Rohan Theme
Minas Tiriath Theme
Music played during the Shelob scene in The Return of The King

[lenny]

hey i love the LOTR music too!

that part after gandalf falls is especially touching 

[Radix]

I'm always touched by Medtner's "Alla Reminiscenza."  It makes a great encore piece.

[chromatickler]

alkan concerto, the slow theme from mvmt1 and the opening theme of mvmt2

[shasta]

Mendelssohn's D minor Trio (opening theme)

Chopin's Raindrop Prelude

Chopin's Barcarolle

Tchaikovsky's Trio (opening theme) - totally agreeing w/ Lenny

Mendelssohn's Hebrides

[ralessi]

I am going to have to say the second theme in the G minor Chopin ballade.  It comes in so beautifully and softly after the big arpeggiated section then right after the first theme comes back for a few lines with a WONDERFUL entrance (F#'s and G#'s and A's) it comes back with a FF and the chords are just out of this world. Gorgeous! 2 thumbs up...(i hope all that made sense!)

[Lance Morrison]

a simple moment that always moves me much is the neo-baroque variation in the last movement of beethoven's 30th sonata; the main theme is nice too. also, first movement of his #28......also, the 3rd variation of the 2nd movement of sonata #32 is so happy and delightful

debussy's hommage a rameau is simply beautiful

two charles ives songs for voice and piano called "the housatonic at stockbridge" and "the things our fathers loved" kill me every time with their vocal lines full of poignant nostalgia

[claudio]

schubert trout quintet. op.114

[shasta]

The adagio from Mozart's "Gran Partita"

[Floristan]

Brahms Op. 118, No. 2.

The slow movement from Brahms Double Concerto.

[Nana_Ama]

Romance for 1 Piano, 6 hands by Rachmaninov... the beginning sounds similar to the second movement of his second concerto.

p.s- does anyone have any idea where I could get a recording of the piece?

[Glissando]

2nd Movement, Waldstein
any one of Mozart's 2nd movement- k. 332 I particularly love
Rach 3 2nd movement (you knew I was going to say that, right?)
Chopin's 2nd Piano Concerto- 2nd movement.
All of those are so gorgeous, you must listen to them if you haven't already.

I'll write more when I can think of something that isn't a 2nd movement. lol!

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Here are some of my favorites (some probably are repeated):


Beethoven -

Fur Elise 
Sonata Op. 13, 2nd Movement
Sonata Op. 28, 4th Movement
Sonata Op. 53, 3rd Movement
Sonata Op. 90, 2nd Movement
Sonata Op. 109, 3rd Movement
Sonata Op. 110, 3rd Movement
Piano Concerto #5, 2nd Movement
9th Symphony, Ode to Joy


Mendelssohn -

Rondo Capriccioso (Andante)


Liszt -

Liebestraum in Ab
Sonata, many of the slow themes


Chopin -

Polonaise (Heroic)
Nocturne in E Flat
G Minor Ballade


Schumann -

Traumerei


Grieg -

Piano Concerto, 3rd Movement slow theme


Tchaicowsky -

Romeo and Juliet
Piano Concerto 1, Introduction
Capriccio Italian


Dvorak -

New World Symphony, 2nd Movement


Saint-Saens -

Organ Symphony, 2nd Movement, 4th Movement (main theme of the symphony)


Satie -

Gymnopedie No. 1
 

Gershwin -

Rhapsody in Blue, slow theme


Debussy -

Reverie
Suite Bergamasque, Clair de Lune


Rachmaninoff -

2nd Piano Concerto, 3rd Movement
3rd Piano Concerto, 1st Movement slow theme, and the very end
Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, 18th Variation


Godowsky -

Polonaise
Poem #2 - Avowel
Ein Daemmerungsbild


Busoni -

Concerto, all of the themes throughout the concerto that are combined in the last movement


This list doesn't even scratch the surface.

[musik_man]

Reading this thread has really made me appreciate how lucky I am not to be stuck listening to the crap that most non-musicians listent to.  Those poor souls.

[EDIT] I'm gonna add some more pieces to my list

Bach-
Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen? from St. Matthew's Passion

Beethoven-
Allegretto 7th Symphony
Adagio Molto 9th Symphony
Emperor Concerto 2nd Mvt.
Waldstein 3rd Mvt

Bernstein-
Make our Garden Grow from Candide

Brahms-
2nd Piano Concerto Mvt III
4th Symphony Mvt II

Chopin-
Nocturnes 1-21
Prelude no 6 in B minor
Raindrop Prelude
Ballade 3 in A flat major

Copland-
Doppio Moviment from Appalachian Spring(The part based off of the Shaker hymn)
Saturday Night Waltz from Rodeo

Kansas-
Dust in the Wind Point of Know Return
Nobody's Home Point of Know Return

Mahler-
Die zwei blauen Augen from Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen
Das Trinklied von Jammer der Erde from Das Lied der Erde
The Kindertotenlieder
Ressurection Symphony 5th Mvt
Andante Moderato Tragic Symphony

Pink Floyd
Brain Damage Dark Side of the Moon

Prokofiev-
Field of the Dead Alexander Nevsky

Rachmaninov-
Vespers (particularly Nyne Otpushchaesi and Voskrensie Khristovo)

Respighi-
Pines near a Catacomb
La Fuga in Egitto Church Windows
The Three Magi Boticelli Pictures

Schubert-
Staendchen
Erlkoenig
Der Lindenbaum Winterreise
Der Leiermann Winterreise
An die Entfernte

Shostakovich-
Largo Symphony 5

Sibelius-
Finlandia (the part that's used as a hymn)

Smetana-
Vysherad Ma Vlast

Stravinsky-
Dance des Nounous Petrushka

Wagner-
Isolde's Liebestod
The Tannhauser Overture

Yes-
Heart of the Sunrise Fragile
The Revealing Science of God Tales from Topographic Oceans
Close to the Edge Close to the Edge

[Muzakian]

Whoa no-one (myself included) has mentioned Rachmaninov's Vocalise yet!
Until now. One vote for the Vocalise 

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Reading this thread has really made me appreciate how lucky I am not to be stuck listening to the crap that most non-musicians listent to.  Those poor souls.

Good music is good music. I think so-called experienced musicians should get over themselves and be able to enjoy classics such as Fur Elise. By the way, I am not a non-musician, if you were referring to my post, where I listed many "over-played" pieces.

If you cannot appreciate the music that has been listed, maybe it is you who is the "non-musician".

[steinwayguy]

Whoa no-one (myself included) has mentioned Rachmaninov's Vocalise yet!
Until now. One vote for the Vocalise 

I second (and third) that!!!!!!

[musik_man]

Good music is good music. I think so-called experienced musicians should get over themselves and be able to enjoy classics such as Fur Elise. By the way, I am not a non-musician, if you were referring to my post, where I listed many "over-played" pieces.

If you cannot appreciate the music that has been listed, maybe it is you who is the "non-musician".

I don't mean overplayed stuff.  I'm talking more about Britney Spears, 50 cent, all country music, etc.  Music that just sucks.  I don't see anything wrong with your list (well, except the Capriccio Italian by Tchaikovsky.  I just plain don't like that one. )

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

I don't mean overplayed stuff.  I'm talking more about Britney Spears, 50 cent, all country music, etc.  Music that just sucks.  I don't see anything wrong with your list (well, except the Capriccio Italian by Tchaikovsky.  I just plain don't like that one. )

All right. Sorry for the misunderstanding... 

 

[pigscanfly]

I'm surprised nobodys mentioned chopin's etude opus 10 no.3 in E major.  Now that song is touching!

Also of course the slow part of Fantasy Impromptu if it is played well.

Another etude by Chopin that I find nobody ever mentions is the slow part with the melody in the left hand of etude opus 25 no. 5.  That melody is amazing.

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

I'm surprised nobodys mentioned chopin's etude opus 10 no.3 in E major.  Now that song is touching!

Hmm... In other words, it was an etude for voice? What and interesting concept! I didn't know Chopin wrote things like that! Do you have any sheet music that you could send me?

[Chrysalis]

My alltime fav melodies are

Schubert

Impromptu opus 90:3 and opus 142:3

Mendelssohn

Lied ohne worte 19:1 and gondellied

Debussy

Clair De Lune , Reverie and Arabesque 1st

Schumann

Traumerei

Liszt

Liebestraume

Chopin

raindrop, nocturne 9.1/9.2

[Rockitman]

Lot's of Chopin mentioned of course.  But no one mentioned Andante Spiniato.  That one grabs me more than any of the others.

[bachmaninov]

The climax off Tchaikovsky's Piano Concert No.1 - The part directly after the piano cadenza, when the orchestra and piano come in together.

(Did you know tchaikovsky has a piano concerto No. 2? I bet you didn't!) I've never heard it though

And there's that one part in Liszt's piano concerto No. 2... Kind of diffucult to explain where exactly im talking about, but its near the beginning, and piano is going through a constant run (just before a huge triplet run) and the cello accompanies the piano... so...good....

[Nana_Ama]

I've fallen in love with Schubert's sonata in A (I believe opus 120).  I just heard it yesterday and it took my breath away...

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

(Did you know tchaikovsky has a piano concerto No. 2? I bet you didn't!)

He wrote a 3rd too.

[Glissando]

Lot's of Chopin mentioned of course.  But no one mentioned Andante Spiniato.  That one grabs me more than any of the others.

lol I was just about to post that one. Drop dead gorgeous!!!

[thierry13]

All of Liszt's second concerto. Especially that part where the violins have a small solo,just before the piano begin to play faster. So beautiful.

[bachmaninov]

He wrote a 3rd too.

Interesting... I had no idea 

[apion]

3rd Movement of Brahms Op. 83 (2nd PC)
Sanctus from Beethoven's Missa Solemnis (solo violin)

[chopinisque]

Chopin Ballade in Gminor, slow concerto movement, sonata for paino and violin
Albeniz Castilla, Granada
Lizst's Liberstraum, consolations
Beethoven op. 90, moonlight third movement
Bach's Jesu joy of man's desiring, air on G string, second and third partitas for solo violin
Ravel's meneut antique, tombeau and sonatine, barque sur leoceon
Satie's gymnopedie no.1
fruhlingslied
Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini
Granados' Goyesca no.4 La maya el rusenor
Cancons I dansas 1
An den fruhling